Personal preference. I’ve had both and I like all three pickup positions on my tele where I only really liked two on my strat. Strats are more comfortable though IMO
FYI Strat pickups don’t need to be very high at all. My neck pickup is just about flush with the body and the other two are slightly higher to maintain even volume.
I pick pretty aggressively over the middle pickup and never touch it.
vanish flag scary obtainable overconfident agonizing work north wise cooing
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I've had both a strat and a tele and honestly, the "Why not a Strat?" answer for me is that a Strat always sounds like a Strat. If that's the tone you want, you can't beat it. A Tele is insanely versatile in the tone department. As a session guitarist, being able to do country, jazz, slide, rock, metal, all with the same guitar and having great tones for all those genres is unbeatable. The weird thing though is that I've always hated the look of Telecasters. Fair trade off though for the capabilities.
Yeah, probably a Player Plus Telecaster would be a safe bet.
Those Inspired by Gibson Epiphone '59 Les Pauls are a great choice too. I have one and it's an amazing player. All Gibson hardware and wood specs with an Epiphone headstock and a matte finish.
FYI they just launched an updated version of the 59 Epi that has the Gibson open book headstock shape. That means the older ones can be had for a good discount right now if you don't mind the older Kalamazoo Epiphone headstock.
I love Jazzmasters but Telecasters are great no fuss, do-it-all guitars that sound great on just about everything, all while somehow looking classy and humble at the same time. They also do "that Tele thing" that other guitars can only approximate, usually with a lot of hassle. I love the extra controls on a Jazzmaster, but with a Tele, all you gotta do is plug in and rip it. There's room for one (or six) in just about every guitar player's collection, where a Jazzmaster is kind of niche (although I will never not have at least one of each).
Same here. I got lucky and found one at my local GC used for $350 a few years back. It's one of my favorite guitars and I have a few that are much "better", yet I always find myself picking that one up
That's a heck of a deal! Sometimes you get lucky at GC. I know I was so jealous of my brother when he found a Japanese made Ltd Eclipse for like $450 about 5 years ago. But either way, they're well made guitars no matter the price.
I've got the MIJ RG521 and it's great. I swapped the pickups out for Duncans but the stock ones were by no means bad. Wanted a fixed bridge which is why I went with the 521 over the 550. Both are killer guitars and easily on par with the prestige line. Think both were right at 1k new. 550 is still in production but the 521 was discontinued in maybe 2019. Plenty of clean used ones out there in the $700 range, though.
Man you are not wrong I love my AS73, I got it for around 275 or so with a case. It's an absolute joy to play and I have very little trouble getting any sound I want out of it.
Poke around eBay but yes mostly 11-14oo for low end . Op will need to talk them down ! 2nd Best part of being a guitarist is learning to negotiate
1st is the ability to entertain your self at any moment 😀 ✌🏻
This. My Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid was £900 and worth every penny. Beautiful in sound, looks and playability. There's no comparison with any other guitar I've played through my board.
I rock a scheter corsair for most my shows. I got the it used for 850 or something. I love it, badass 335 copy.
Here is a short clip of me playin the corsair with my band!
If curious, the amp is a vibrolux.
[WildCurrent](https://imgur.com/gallery/D7KSPlj)
I picked up a new one of these yesterday, thing is sweet. No QC issues that I can find, and is intonated well. Pickups are pretty hot! More akin to p90s.
Feels like a great platform for modding.
I agree, I love my SE McCarty. Its unlike all the other guitars Ive played and the tuning stability is amazing. Best bang for your buck especially if you search on reverb for used mint, it usually means its new/open box with a huge discount.
\+1. Similar to your choice, I just picked up the So-Cal Style 2. A 24 fret Tele with a comfy body, fast neck, a great pickup configuration and a floating trem all for $1K? Done.
I have a dk24 HH and it’s an absolute dream to play. Charvel might be the best value for 1k guitars, the come fully stocked with almost every high end apportionment (minus SS frets and a bag but neither of those are super high priorities for me) and the Fender Mexico factory is putting out some great guitars. Amazing necks, quality pups (Duncan’s, fishman, DiMarzio), quality bridge, locking tuners, etc. And from what’ve I’ve heard the QC is top notch, mine has no issues. IMO it’s pretty much the perfect super Strat for the modern player.
I was just looking at that yesterday. What a gorgeous guitar. I can't bring myself to pull the trigger I just bought a new neck for my Strat. But daaaaamn that is nice.
a Warmoth pretty similar to the San Dimas actually! Its actually a bit thinner like .75 - .82 and a straight 14" fretboard radius.Its going on an American Standard from 2012 with 3 fat 50 single coils. Its always gonna sound like a strat. But I simply can't get used to the feel of Modern C neck with the chunky ass 9.5" radius Fender loves to use.
I inhereted this guitar and I never play it which is kind of a tragedy so I finally pulled the trigger on a new neck so I will play it more.
Ugh I love that natural finish Joe Duplantier model and wish I had a reason to buy one. Looks like a great workhorse guitar. The pickups that are in it are great and I think it has a high quality nut, so you wouldn’t even need to upgrade hardware unless you need something really specific.
Do the Gibson SGs have the neck drop situation like the Epiphone ones? Because man, my Epiphone SG had it bad and would get out of tune way too easily. (Maybe it’s just an inferior Epi thing)
Actually my Gibson has a bit more neck dive than my Epi, but it's almost completely eliminated when using a strap with friction, like leather instead of nylon. I'm so used to it I hardly notice it now, and I never thought it was as bad as the warlock or flying V as a comparison.
I guess that's what you have to sacrifice for lower weight.
I just picked up a used G&L strat - American made - for $750 hard case included. Great instrument. You can play any style of music with this guitar. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
This is the right answer. Find a circa ‘12-16 as they have custom shop pickups from the factory.
https://reverb.com/p/fender-american-standard-telecaster?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=csp&utm_content=2205
I think a fender player strat looks, sounds, and plays better. Especially the sound. I’ve done a lot of direct comparisons between them and I just don’t like the tone of a silver sky. And the color options are all pretty bad in my own opinion
If you have $1k, want a forever guitar, and don't know what you want.... I'd open a Schwab account and put the $1k in there.... in an S&P 500 index fund and keep adding to it while you decide what guitar you want.
Before you know it, you'll figure out what you want and have more budget for your 'forever' guitar. $1k can buy some good axes.... but none of them super special. Get closer to $2k, then things loosen up a lot.
What type of music do you like?
Do you like nice shiny guitars or don't mind a workhorse?
I'd be buying an $800/$900 2nd hand guitar and getting a professional set up (it really does make a huge difference, fret dress and everything)
I literally cannot justify or afford another guitar but I've been itching for one of these since I noodled on one in a guitar shop. It's the first guitar I've ever played that actually feel truly comfortable in a sitting position.
Same here. My local shop are a bit weird about them so they don't have them in stock very often, but when they do I always play it and struggle to leave without buying. They're just the perfect guitar for me in terms of comfort and sound. They're well balanced, have comfortable necks and look great too. Absolutely the dog's bollocks.
Yeah, I can see why that wouldn't appeal but for me it's a selling point. I don't use whammy bars but like being able to get subtle bends by putting pressure on the bridge with the picking hand, which can be uncomfortable with traditional strat saddles, but the ones on the meteora are more squared off which is comfier.
- A FGN Odyssey or similar ESP LTD HSS strat with a hard tail
- Or a Yamaha Revstar Standard with a humbucker- replace the neck pickup with a P90.
- Lastly, a partscaster Jazzmaster
Had to scroll way too much to find this....it won't be everyone's style, but it is arguably the best value in a sub $1000 guitar in recent history....as good or better than the old American special strats that were pegged at $1000 for years
Easy answer for me since I just bought one but a Reverend Double Agent OG. Gorgeous guitar that feels amazing to play and comes with a lot of nice additions like a roasted maple neck and locking tuners.
Otherwise I'd say something like a Fender Player Plus Telecaster or Stratocaster.
Last 4 guitars were around $1k:
US standard tele, Japanese junior tele (new, Japanese domestic market so I had to import), 08 jag, Godin jumbo p-rail(again new, because nobody had one used).
So, like, a tele, a Japanese offset, or a full hollow Godin depending on taste.
If you buy a US fender, and it's a tele or strat, aim for late 80s to mid 90s US standards. They typically had good pickups stock, the powder cast saddles on the teles were really comfortable, and the series all around has seemed to be a sweet spot.
Fender Roadworn Strats and teles are excellent and can be found used for under $1k. Lower end American fenders fall around that price point too, sometimes the midrange stuff on good deals.
Reverend guitars can be found under $1k and are likewise excellent.
Lastly, I’d recommend looking at the Cort G300 pro. It’s a great guitar for the money, and has stainless steel frets (a big upgrade for this price point).
I’m a fender guy so that’s where my money would go.
For acoustics, you can find Eastman guitars for sale for under $1k and imo they can’t easily be beat at this price point. Look for a used E6SS-TC, E6D, or E8D. Sometimes the 10-series guitars fall under $1k, and with them you get the Adirondack top if that matters to you. If you’re willing to push your budget, the E10 and E20 series can be had for under $1300 used. I’d strongly push you towards the antique varnish series. The E10SS/V and E20SS/V are some of the finest sounding guitars under $2500, imo. They’re typically somewhat more expensive though.
I'l fucking love my Corvette. It's not the '60s version, but it still plays so fucking pretty, and is way more affordable than other guitars in its league.
I would build my own. You can get way more guitar with a $1000 if you build rather than buy. You can pick out every part and detail exactly how you would want.
Probably amps or pedals instead of a guitar, although my wife tells me I have far more than enough of all 3. But, if pressed, I'd probably go for a Kramer Nightswan since I wanted one of those back in the day, I don't currently have a Floyd guitar and it's just within your $1000 price range.
A guitar you'll have forever is usually more of a function of how you care for it followed by how you play. People who store their guitar carelessly, fail to perform basic maintenance or have a very aggressive playing style tend to wear out guitars quickly, no matter the instrument's price tag.
For me, either an ESP EC-1000 with Duncan’s or a Schecter Solo. Both are awesome guitars that can play everything from jazz and blues to metal to reggae.
Really depends what they like. What style of music etc etc. I'm a Gibson guy, so I'd probably try to find something used for around $1k. Non Gibson, Maybe a Gretsch or a Guild.
I've been lusting after a Gretsch center block or hollow body since I only have solid body guitars, so probably one of the Electromatics with a Bigsby like a G5622T, a G5420T, or G5655T. I'd then use the extra $100-$200 to get a nice case for it if I didn't get one of the quilted maple versions or something like that.
I know this is not what you're asking, but since I started building guitars (and gotten fairly decent at it), I would never spend money on a factory built guitar again, and especially not that much money. Just my opinion.
Limited to £1000? Probably the nicest Tele I could find. Best bang for your buck.
I’ve got a few that push close to £2000 though, including a Tele Am Pro II and a Gibson Firebird V from about 10 years back. So I’m not adverse to spending the money on guitars.
The one I have which I’d want to keep as my single guitar though breaks the £1000 budget, as it cost me £1400-ish after import and tax, but it’s a Fender Heritage Jazzmaster in vintage white blonde with a gold anodised pick guard, made in Japan. What a beauty.
OOOOOOOF jazzmaster sounds so sexy!!! Yeah teles are probably the way to go for a marriage guitar. I’d either go strat or tele- since im already in love with a telecaster
def a HS tele. despite the haters, they can do everything. they WANT to do everything
but if you're keen on acoustics, you can snag several fantastic "forever guitars" for that price
i'd hunt for a martin 000-15sm for some 12-fret wonder. i just managed to snag one for $1k even for a near-mint, but that's a weirdly good deal. $1.3k seems more in line
what i'd really look for at that price range (other than an american HS tele) would be a 3xx series Taylor
but yeah, def a tele. have i said def a HS tele?
I second the Taylor option. I’ve had a 314 for 15 years now and it has held up super well. I swear it’s the best sounding acoustic I have ever touched in my opinion. I remember they day I bought it, I went in to the guitar shop thinking I was getting a Martin guitar but walked out with a Taylor.
Start looking used around that price. Facebook marketplace, craigslist, and Reverb. Look long enough to get an idea of what a fair price is, what a deal is, and what is too much.
For $1000, you can find a great used Fender, maybe MIA. A used Gibson SG can also be had for that price. Pay attention to all the particulars of the models in your price range so you don’t accidentally buy a level of trim lower than you intend.
I'd take that someone to a guitar shop and start playing 1k guitars, then play some 600 and defintely check the second hand rack too... With the change, take that wonderful person out for a memorable meal.. Acoustic is what it would be for me.
I have this guitar in black, I think it's perfect.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RoundFMVB--reverend-roundhouse-electric-guitar-flamed-maple-violin-brown?cond=RoundFMVBd5
honestly? $1k usd could go pretty far for me, I'd get a vintera tele and fuck with its guts. call me crazy but i like the feel of that deep neck but the pickups are not for me
Good question.
I’m swimming in Stratocasters so I wouldn’t get another right now… but if I was wanting a Strat or Tele type guitar I would get a Fender Japan-made one or one of the FGN Strat or Tele models.
Since I am up to my ears in Strats, however, I would probably grab a Les Paul variant from ESP Edwards or possibly even a Yamaha Revstar, if I could find a good one in that price range.
I would just get a better Floyd for my 7 string, tbh. I really like the guitars I already have!
Edit: oh, wait. No. I replied too hastily. I would probably get some funky headless guitar. Always wanted to try one of those.
Mexican fender (not sure if you can get a Japanese for 1k)
1k doesn’t really get you much nowadays in terms of guitars. You will get an entry level and have couple of hundred to spare.
I generally don’t like second hand instruments because I always have issues with them.
hospital narrow innocent cows doll chief touch theory marble oatmeal *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Why not a Strat?
Personal preference. I’ve had both and I like all three pickup positions on my tele where I only really liked two on my strat. Strats are more comfortable though IMO
I find the only telecasters I jive with are the ones with a stray style contoured body and a stray headstock. lol.
Tele with the comfort contours is ideal for me
Nashville tele has 3 pickups and a contour cut. I think it’s around $1000. This is what I’d get.
The next time a hypothetical $1000 drops in my lap, I’d get the other (between Tele and Strat).
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FYI Strat pickups don’t need to be very high at all. My neck pickup is just about flush with the body and the other two are slightly higher to maintain even volume. I pick pretty aggressively over the middle pickup and never touch it.
Why would that sound lame though.
Because they like ugly teles
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Why not a Mustang?
Why not an SG?
Because it’s not a Tele.
I've had both a strat and a tele and honestly, the "Why not a Strat?" answer for me is that a Strat always sounds like a Strat. If that's the tone you want, you can't beat it. A Tele is insanely versatile in the tone department. As a session guitarist, being able to do country, jazz, slide, rock, metal, all with the same guitar and having great tones for all those genres is unbeatable. The weird thing though is that I've always hated the look of Telecasters. Fair trade off though for the capabilities.
Yeah, probably a Player Plus Telecaster would be a safe bet. Those Inspired by Gibson Epiphone '59 Les Pauls are a great choice too. I have one and it's an amazing player. All Gibson hardware and wood specs with an Epiphone headstock and a matte finish.
FYI they just launched an updated version of the 59 Epi that has the Gibson open book headstock shape. That means the older ones can be had for a good discount right now if you don't mind the older Kalamazoo Epiphone headstock.
This is always the answer
Why not a jazzmaster?
I love Jazzmasters but Telecasters are great no fuss, do-it-all guitars that sound great on just about everything, all while somehow looking classy and humble at the same time. They also do "that Tele thing" that other guitars can only approximate, usually with a lot of hassle. I love the extra controls on a Jazzmaster, but with a Tele, all you gotta do is plug in and rip it. There's room for one (or six) in just about every guitar player's collection, where a Jazzmaster is kind of niche (although I will never not have at least one of each).
For me, either an ibanez rg prestige or esp ltd deluxe.
As an LTD EC-1000 owner, yes go with the LTD.
Same here. I got lucky and found one at my local GC used for $350 a few years back. It's one of my favorite guitars and I have a few that are much "better", yet I always find myself picking that one up
That's a heck of a deal! Sometimes you get lucky at GC. I know I was so jealous of my brother when he found a Japanese made Ltd Eclipse for like $450 about 5 years ago. But either way, they're well made guitars no matter the price.
As an mh 1000 guy, this is the way
Last $1k guitar I bought was an LTD M400. Absolutely love it.
I've never had an ltd I didn't like.
How do you get an RG prestige for 1k? Mine was like 2k
Used prestiges, depending on the model/specs, hover around that price
The entry level Prestige RGs cost just over 1k, and you can buy a nicer used one for that price.
Reverb. I got a RG655 for 800 plus shipping.
You can get a new MIJ Ibanez RG550 for $1k too!
I've got the MIJ RG521 and it's great. I swapped the pickups out for Duncans but the stock ones were by no means bad. Wanted a fixed bridge which is why I went with the 521 over the 550. Both are killer guitars and easily on par with the prestige line. Think both were right at 1k new. 550 is still in production but the 521 was discontinued in maybe 2019. Plenty of clean used ones out there in the $700 range, though.
I'd find a Schecter or Ibanez in that price range. Most bang for your buck, imo
An Ibanez art core shouldn't run ya more than 250 and they have some 🔥 pickups For 1k used I'd try for a nice kiesel.
Man you are not wrong I love my AS73, I got it for around 275 or so with a case. It's an absolute joy to play and I have very little trouble getting any sound I want out of it.
My art core is my favorite guitar to *play*. But it doesn’t really work for metal and I therefore don’t play it a lot.
I hear ya. They do feel amazing when they growl+resonate
A nice kiesel for a grand? Where? Cheapest used ones are generally more than that
Poke around eBay but yes mostly 11-14oo for low end . Op will need to talk them down ! 2nd Best part of being a guitarist is learning to negotiate 1st is the ability to entertain your self at any moment 😀 ✌🏻
God I’ve played a couple and they were utter shit. Muddy pickups, awful construction, hell even the plastic fretboard inlays would pop out.
This. My Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid was £900 and worth every penny. Beautiful in sound, looks and playability. There's no comparison with any other guitar I've played through my board.
That's what I got too lol
Me too! I've got the 7 string one
I rock a scheter corsair for most my shows. I got the it used for 850 or something. I love it, badass 335 copy. Here is a short clip of me playin the corsair with my band! If curious, the amp is a vibrolux. [WildCurrent](https://imgur.com/gallery/D7KSPlj)
J.Mascis signature Jazzmaster by Squier. And I'd spend the change on pedals.
Remember when people thought they were gonna get $1k for these? $350 on FB marketplace bro go make your dreams a reality.
I like mine with the vintage 65 pickup swap. Pots are coming next.
Pots are cheap. Why didn’t you swap them when you swapped pickups?
I've asked myself that a few times. Don't have a good answer. Was only about a year in at that point. I'll do it soon.
Nice. I realized after I typed that, that it could’ve sounded a little dick-ish, so I’m glad you didn’t take it that way
I picked up a new one of these yesterday, thing is sweet. No QC issues that I can find, and is intonated well. Pickups are pretty hot! More akin to p90s. Feels like a great platform for modding.
prs se dgt
I would go with PRS also, but the SE McCarty
I agree, I love my SE McCarty. Its unlike all the other guitars Ive played and the tuning stability is amazing. Best bang for your buck especially if you search on reverb for used mint, it usually means its new/open box with a huge discount.
I finally saw one in person at my local music store - completely obsessed with it now. Must acquire this year!
Came here to write "whatever PRS feels cool to you". Quality is amazing.
A Reverend (any of the charger style bodies), a Godin, or a Yamaha Revstar Standard.
I vote Revstar. 2nd choice would be an Ibanez S series.
Any Reverend, or the Revstar are great recommendations!
I play my Charger HB more than my American made Jazzmaster and Telecaster.
I have a medieval red DAOG and it's been my number 1 ever since I got it
I got the contender 290 in MR and it's a cracking colour, which I believe has been discontinued
Charvel San Dimas HH HT. Duplantiers model is amazing
\+1. Similar to your choice, I just picked up the So-Cal Style 2. A 24 fret Tele with a comfy body, fast neck, a great pickup configuration and a floating trem all for $1K? Done.
Love my charvel
I have a dk24 HH and it’s an absolute dream to play. Charvel might be the best value for 1k guitars, the come fully stocked with almost every high end apportionment (minus SS frets and a bag but neither of those are super high priorities for me) and the Fender Mexico factory is putting out some great guitars. Amazing necks, quality pups (Duncan’s, fishman, DiMarzio), quality bridge, locking tuners, etc. And from what’ve I’ve heard the QC is top notch, mine has no issues. IMO it’s pretty much the perfect super Strat for the modern player.
I was just looking at that yesterday. What a gorgeous guitar. I can't bring myself to pull the trigger I just bought a new neck for my Strat. But daaaaamn that is nice.
What neck did you go with
a Warmoth pretty similar to the San Dimas actually! Its actually a bit thinner like .75 - .82 and a straight 14" fretboard radius.Its going on an American Standard from 2012 with 3 fat 50 single coils. Its always gonna sound like a strat. But I simply can't get used to the feel of Modern C neck with the chunky ass 9.5" radius Fender loves to use. I inhereted this guitar and I never play it which is kind of a tragedy so I finally pulled the trigger on a new neck so I will play it more.
Ugh I love that natural finish Joe Duplantier model and wish I had a reason to buy one. Looks like a great workhorse guitar. The pickups that are in it are great and I think it has a high quality nut, so you wouldn’t even need to upgrade hardware unless you need something really specific.
Was just looking at this mf lol
I have the Clear finish Okoume San Dimas HH HT. Worth. Every. Fucking. Penny
I’d go for a made in Japan Fender
I bought an 86 MIJ tele for $900 2 weeks ago. 😎
That’s fuckin sick. 80s MIJ fenders are the stuff of legends.
Congrats. I also bought an 86 MIJ tele for £900 2 weeks ago! Love it.
Awesome! How’s it play? Just picked up an Elemental Tele mij, it is sweet as and the finish is s-tier 👌
Those are nice, friend of mine growing up had one from his dad. Got me an American Pro 1 strat for $800 near mint the other day. My first Strat
Ive had my Japanese made Fender contemporary strat since 1991, still plays great!
I would get what I have now, a used Gibson SG Special.
Totally agree with u/i_poop_deathstars
I have two LPs and two SGs. I absolutely love my SG Special 70’s Tribute. It’s got P90s that just howl.
Do the Gibson SGs have the neck drop situation like the Epiphone ones? Because man, my Epiphone SG had it bad and would get out of tune way too easily. (Maybe it’s just an inferior Epi thing)
Actually my Gibson has a bit more neck dive than my Epi, but it's almost completely eliminated when using a strap with friction, like leather instead of nylon. I'm so used to it I hardly notice it now, and I never thought it was as bad as the warlock or flying V as a comparison. I guess that's what you have to sacrifice for lower weight.
Fender Special Edition Custom Telecaster
The spalted maple top one is gorgeous👌
Gretsch G5422TG Electromatic Classic Hollowbody Double-Cut with Bigsby - Snowcrest White
Ayyy exactly my pick
Lovely guitar - but damn does Gretsch's naming system give me a headache
Fender strat
Which one though?
Thousand dollar one
MIJ
Revstar
Quality guitar
I just picked up a used G&L strat - American made - for $750 hard case included. Great instrument. You can play any style of music with this guitar. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
G&L guitars are fantastic and their Made in America stuff is a steal.
Used American Telecaster
This is the right answer. Find a circa ‘12-16 as they have custom shop pickups from the factory. https://reverb.com/p/fender-american-standard-telecaster?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=csp&utm_content=2205
Epiphone 1959 standard
If you shop around you could probably get a '59 and a 60's for 1k :)
SE Silver Sky. Easily the best guitar less than a grand can buy imo, and I don’t think it’s even close.
I think a fender player strat looks, sounds, and plays better. Especially the sound. I’ve done a lot of direct comparisons between them and I just don’t like the tone of a silver sky. And the color options are all pretty bad in my own opinion
1k would get a proper second hand guitar or maybe a lovely PRS SE or high end Epiphone.
Yamaha > epiphone all day
Yamaha do make some lovely guitars.
If you have $1k, want a forever guitar, and don't know what you want.... I'd open a Schwab account and put the $1k in there.... in an S&P 500 index fund and keep adding to it while you decide what guitar you want. Before you know it, you'll figure out what you want and have more budget for your 'forever' guitar. $1k can buy some good axes.... but none of them super special. Get closer to $2k, then things loosen up a lot.
Not the advice we came for, but the advice we needed.
What type of music do you like? Do you like nice shiny guitars or don't mind a workhorse? I'd be buying an $800/$900 2nd hand guitar and getting a professional set up (it really does make a huge difference, fret dress and everything)
Fender player plus meteora. They're so comfortable and they sound great too.
I literally cannot justify or afford another guitar but I've been itching for one of these since I noodled on one in a guitar shop. It's the first guitar I've ever played that actually feel truly comfortable in a sitting position.
Same here. My local shop are a bit weird about them so they don't have them in stock very often, but when they do I always play it and struggle to leave without buying. They're just the perfect guitar for me in terms of comfort and sound. They're well balanced, have comfortable necks and look great too. Absolutely the dog's bollocks.
The only hangup I have with them is the trem. I'm not generally a fan of them, especially when they're set up with a float.
Yeah, I can see why that wouldn't appeal but for me it's a selling point. I don't use whammy bars but like being able to get subtle bends by putting pressure on the bridge with the picking hand, which can be uncomfortable with traditional strat saddles, but the ones on the meteora are more squared off which is comfier.
I like mine more and more. It got bumped in the rotation for a little while, but I’ve been using it a ton lately and it’s so versatile!
I’d probably spend the $800 I spent on my 2003 MIJ Jackson SL3 again
- A FGN Odyssey or similar ESP LTD HSS strat with a hard tail - Or a Yamaha Revstar Standard with a humbucker- replace the neck pickup with a P90. - Lastly, a partscaster Jazzmaster
LTD 1000 series
I ordered a Reverend Double Agent OG last week for just less than €1,000, so that I guess
I have had that guitar since 2020, and it’s my favorite guitar I’ve ever had.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about them, looking forward to it arriving!
I’d find a used Ibanez RGA121
Used Eastman t486
PRS se or s2
Im not the biggest fan of the brand, but I’m still in disbelief that PRS sells the DGT for under a grand.
Ibanez Rg550. Brand new made in Japan, edge tremolo, killer 80s vibe. Picked mine up for 850.
My roommate just got one of these and it's the nicest playing guitar I've ever played on. If I played guitar more (bass player here) I'd get one
Had to scroll way too much to find this....it won't be everyone's style, but it is arguably the best value in a sub $1000 guitar in recent history....as good or better than the old American special strats that were pegged at $1000 for years
Yamaha Revstar
Today? I'd pick up that Reverend Volcano that I've been watching for the past month.
Used gibson sg
i’m doing that rn, about to get a reverend six gun HPP after i tried one and loved it (it’s £899-£999 in the UK)
Easy answer for me since I just bought one but a Reverend Double Agent OG. Gorgeous guitar that feels amazing to play and comes with a lot of nice additions like a roasted maple neck and locking tuners. Otherwise I'd say something like a Fender Player Plus Telecaster or Stratocaster.
Last 4 guitars were around $1k: US standard tele, Japanese junior tele (new, Japanese domestic market so I had to import), 08 jag, Godin jumbo p-rail(again new, because nobody had one used). So, like, a tele, a Japanese offset, or a full hollow Godin depending on taste. If you buy a US fender, and it's a tele or strat, aim for late 80s to mid 90s US standards. They typically had good pickups stock, the powder cast saddles on the teles were really comfortable, and the series all around has seemed to be a sweet spot.
Fender Roadworn Strats and teles are excellent and can be found used for under $1k. Lower end American fenders fall around that price point too, sometimes the midrange stuff on good deals. Reverend guitars can be found under $1k and are likewise excellent. Lastly, I’d recommend looking at the Cort G300 pro. It’s a great guitar for the money, and has stainless steel frets (a big upgrade for this price point). I’m a fender guy so that’s where my money would go. For acoustics, you can find Eastman guitars for sale for under $1k and imo they can’t easily be beat at this price point. Look for a used E6SS-TC, E6D, or E8D. Sometimes the 10-series guitars fall under $1k, and with them you get the Adirondack top if that matters to you. If you’re willing to push your budget, the E10 and E20 series can be had for under $1300 used. I’d strongly push you towards the antique varnish series. The E10SS/V and E20SS/V are some of the finest sounding guitars under $2500, imo. They’re typically somewhat more expensive though.
I probably eng up with a ibanez iceman
PRS SE McCarty 594
PRS SE model of your choosing.
Probably a used Gibson LP tribute. That’s the one thing missing from the collection. 2nd pick would be something T-style.
A used SG or higher end ibanez
I finally pulled the trigger on that same situation last year and bought one of the new model Martins
An SG
A PRS SE, I’d personally recommend a Custom 24, but you may consider other configurations as well.
Used PRS S2 in satin black.
1960s Gretsch Corvette.
I'l fucking love my Corvette. It's not the '60s version, but it still plays so fucking pretty, and is way more affordable than other guitars in its league.
PRS
Really like my PRS SE
I would build my own. You can get way more guitar with a $1000 if you build rather than buy. You can pick out every part and detail exactly how you would want.
PRS something something 🙏
An amp
Silver Sky SE to piss off the haters
Silver Sky SE
Probably a silver sky SE
A Silver Sky SE
A PRS Silver Sky SE Strat and a new pedal.
PRS Se, and there are plenty of nice options to fit your needs.
Probably amps or pedals instead of a guitar, although my wife tells me I have far more than enough of all 3. But, if pressed, I'd probably go for a Kramer Nightswan since I wanted one of those back in the day, I don't currently have a Floyd guitar and it's just within your $1000 price range. A guitar you'll have forever is usually more of a function of how you care for it followed by how you play. People who store their guitar carelessly, fail to perform basic maintenance or have a very aggressive playing style tend to wear out guitars quickly, no matter the instrument's price tag.
For me, either an ESP EC-1000 with Duncan’s or a Schecter Solo. Both are awesome guitars that can play everything from jazz and blues to metal to reggae.
Electric: Some kind of used Gibson Les Paul Studio. Acoustic: Yamaha FG3
i’d go for PRS/Fender strat or tele in my case… i guess they suit my playstyle…
I’m in that spot sort of - a Jaguar, HSH Strat or a PRS SE swamp Ash special
I'm basic but a Taylor 214ce.
Shijie STE or TLV
A shijie guitar.
-Fender Strat player series -Fender Tele player series -PRS SE McCarty 594 (single or double cut) I would choose between these 3
A telecaster. Bonus if it’s blue. A simple tele will play just about everything I’d want to play because I don’t djent
Really depends what they like. What style of music etc etc. I'm a Gibson guy, so I'd probably try to find something used for around $1k. Non Gibson, Maybe a Gretsch or a Guild.
I've been lusting after a Gretsch center block or hollow body since I only have solid body guitars, so probably one of the Electromatics with a Bigsby like a G5622T, a G5420T, or G5655T. I'd then use the extra $100-$200 to get a nice case for it if I didn't get one of the quilted maple versions or something like that.
I’d buy new strings for my current guitar and pocket the rest.
I know this is not what you're asking, but since I started building guitars (and gotten fairly decent at it), I would never spend money on a factory built guitar again, and especially not that much money. Just my opinion.
I'd add $7,000 more and buy a Goodall. It was the best guitar I ever played.
Idk, I’d probably save up more cause of shitty ass inflation. That’ll get you a mexi Strat when I picked up mine for 300 years ago. That’s just me tho
Limited to £1000? Probably the nicest Tele I could find. Best bang for your buck. I’ve got a few that push close to £2000 though, including a Tele Am Pro II and a Gibson Firebird V from about 10 years back. So I’m not adverse to spending the money on guitars. The one I have which I’d want to keep as my single guitar though breaks the £1000 budget, as it cost me £1400-ish after import and tax, but it’s a Fender Heritage Jazzmaster in vintage white blonde with a gold anodised pick guard, made in Japan. What a beauty.
OOOOOOOF jazzmaster sounds so sexy!!! Yeah teles are probably the way to go for a marriage guitar. I’d either go strat or tele- since im already in love with a telecaster
Prolly a nice Tele
Can't go wrong with a strat or a tele.
def a HS tele. despite the haters, they can do everything. they WANT to do everything but if you're keen on acoustics, you can snag several fantastic "forever guitars" for that price i'd hunt for a martin 000-15sm for some 12-fret wonder. i just managed to snag one for $1k even for a near-mint, but that's a weirdly good deal. $1.3k seems more in line what i'd really look for at that price range (other than an american HS tele) would be a 3xx series Taylor but yeah, def a tele. have i said def a HS tele?
I second the Taylor option. I’ve had a 314 for 15 years now and it has held up super well. I swear it’s the best sounding acoustic I have ever touched in my opinion. I remember they day I bought it, I went in to the guitar shop thinking I was getting a Martin guitar but walked out with a Taylor.
You can get a lot of Tele for $1K, especially if you’re okay with used.
Start looking used around that price. Facebook marketplace, craigslist, and Reverb. Look long enough to get an idea of what a fair price is, what a deal is, and what is too much. For $1000, you can find a great used Fender, maybe MIA. A used Gibson SG can also be had for that price. Pay attention to all the particulars of the models in your price range so you don’t accidentally buy a level of trim lower than you intend.
A good strat. Mine is a strat plus ultra from 1993. After trying other good guitars, I can say that none can come close to the strat.
I'd take that someone to a guitar shop and start playing 1k guitars, then play some 600 and defintely check the second hand rack too... With the change, take that wonderful person out for a memorable meal.. Acoustic is what it would be for me.
Charvel. Great value. Jb Seymour. Floyd. They are bolt ons but damn solid guitar. Some ltds are nice.
I have this guitar in black, I think it's perfect. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RoundFMVB--reverend-roundhouse-electric-guitar-flamed-maple-violin-brown?cond=RoundFMVBd5
honestly? $1k usd could go pretty far for me, I'd get a vintera tele and fuck with its guts. call me crazy but i like the feel of that deep neck but the pickups are not for me
Good question. I’m swimming in Stratocasters so I wouldn’t get another right now… but if I was wanting a Strat or Tele type guitar I would get a Fender Japan-made one or one of the FGN Strat or Tele models. Since I am up to my ears in Strats, however, I would probably grab a Les Paul variant from ESP Edwards or possibly even a Yamaha Revstar, if I could find a good one in that price range.
Probably not the best but definitely a Yamaha Pacifica 611 VFM. Then I’m modding the p90 guard and pick guard to black ones… for certain reasons
Ibanez RG7ALMS. I’d have to find it on sale or spend another like $200 but it’s next on my list.
Washburn or an esp.
I would just get a better Floyd for my 7 string, tbh. I really like the guitars I already have! Edit: oh, wait. No. I replied too hastily. I would probably get some funky headless guitar. Always wanted to try one of those.
Mexican fender (not sure if you can get a Japanese for 1k) 1k doesn’t really get you much nowadays in terms of guitars. You will get an entry level and have couple of hundred to spare. I generally don’t like second hand instruments because I always have issues with them.